Obeisance

an expression of deference or respect, such as a bow or curtsy

Obeisance is a strong practice in the Japanese culture.

A better word than:

bowing
curtsy
showing respect

Vexillology

the study of flags

I can't imagine too many people going into the field of vexillology.

A better word than:

study of flags

Raconteur

one who excels in telling stories and anecdotes

In English, his infamous raconteur talents aren't evident.

A better word than:

good story teller

Wayworn

wearied by traveling

I wish to have such worldly experiences that feeling wayworn is a constant in my life.

A better word than:

tired from traveling

Reticent

inclined to keep silent; reserved; uncommunicative

The reason why I've become so uninterested in group work in school is because of the experiences I've had with reticent students. No progress or development is made without my contributions.

A better word than:

reserved
uncommunicative
silent
anti-social

Fatuous

inanely foolish and unintelligent; stupid.

One of the greatest challenges in life is to enlighten and educate fatuous people of their inaccuracies because they're completely unaware of their misunderstandings.

A better word than:

unintelligent
foolish
stupid
vacuous

Sanguinary

full of or characterized by bloodshed; bloody: a sanguinary struggle

The movie, Wanted, had a sanguinary theme.

A better word than:

bloody

Tenebrous

dark; gloomy

Every captivating storyline has at least one tenebrous character.

A better word than:

dark
gloomy

Rapacious

given to seizing for plunder or the satisfaction of greed

Although it doesn't always seem actively conscious, I do believe I make an effort to not become rapacious like some people I used to befriend.

A better word than:

greedy
avaricious
plundering
ravenous
voracious

Ferocious

savagely fierce, as a wild beast, person, action, or aspect; violently cruel: a ferocious beating

It was my ferociousness that gave me the courage and desire to become a journalist.

A better word than:

fierce
relentless
merciless
savage

Tumult

violent and noisy commotion or disturbance of a crowd or mob; uproar: The tumult reached its height during the premier's speech.

A tumultuous environment is a distant memory and foreign exposure to me now.

A better word than:

noisy
turbulent
termagant (sometimes)

Fiduciary

1. Law. a person to whom property or power is entrusted for the benefit of another.

I still have to designate a fiduciary advocate to make medical decisions in the event that I'm unable to do so.

A better word than:

guardian
trustee

Hebetate

to make dull or blunt

To hebetate the edges of the weapons to create an aged look required a lot of effort.

A better word than:

to dull

Haughty

disdainfully proud; snobbish; scornfully arrogant; supercilious: haughty aristocrats; a haughty salesclerk

It was tragic to see such haughty behavior from a sales representative at Victoria's Secret when all I tried to buy was a pack of mints. I guess she thought I wasn't worth much respect because I was buying oodles of lingerie. Who is she to turn her nose at me when she performs a job a teenager can exercise simply because I was spending an insubstantial amount of money?

A better word:

disdainfully proud
snobbish
scornfully arrogant
supercilious

Gait

a manner of walking, stepping, or running

Her gait emulated her jubilant mood.

A better word than:

walking
stepping
running

Labyrinth

an intricate combination of paths or passages in which it is difficult to find one's way or to reach the exit

Everyone's labyrinth in life is as unique as each and every individual.

A better word than:

complexity
intricacy
entanglement

Facsimile

an exact copy, as of a book, painting, or manuscript

A facsimile of ancient collections are unrealistic.

A better word than:

an exact copy
replicate

Blight

the rapid and extensive discoloration, wilting, and death of plant tissues

The blighted outcome of every plant I maintained seemed to be an inevitable outcome until my most recent pending success.

A better word than:

waning
rapid death
wilting

Stupefaction

the state of being stupefied; stupor

His stupefaction reached an all time high that amazed even me.

A better word than:

stupor

Vociferate

to speak or cry out loudly or noisily; shout; bawl

All of my vociferated attempts in my dreams seem to be silenced.

A better word than:

cry out loudly
shout
bawl

Expostulate

to reason earnestly with someone against something that person intends to do or has done; remonstrate: His father expostulated with him about the evils of gambling.

I expostulated about the dangers of his drinking without success.

A better word than:

remonstrate

Uncanny

having or seeming to have a supernatural or inexplicable basis; beyond the ordinary or normal; extraordinary: uncanny accuracy, an uncanny knack of foreseeing trouble.

He has an uncanny record for producing idealistic image for the perfect man, person son, perfect employee, and so forth.


A better word than:

supernatural
exceptional
incredible
unbelievable

Obliterate

to remove or destroy all traces of; do away with; destroy completely

I felt like my pain obliterated any other feelings I had left.

I feel like my anger obliterates any rational thoughts I could have.

A better word than:

destroy
ruined

Equanimity

mental or emotional stability or composure, esp. under tension or strain; calmness; equilibrium

I've failed to possess even with the most minimal amount of equanimity throughout my life.

A better word than:

calmness
equilibrium
emotional stability

Nonchalant

coolly unconcerned, indifferent, or unexcited; casual: His nonchalant manner infuriated me.

His nonchalant composure makes everyone think that he has his guard up.

A better word than:

indifferent
unexcited
casual
unconcerned

Penchant

a strong inclination, taste, or liking for something: a penchant for outdoor sports.

I'm hoping that my penchant will lead me to discover a unique talent.

A better word than:

strong inclination
strong preference
a liking for something

Cogitation

concerted thought or reflection; meditation; contemplation: After hours of cogitation he came up with a new proposal.

I'm hoping that when I go to a sweat lodge that I'll have some time dedicated exclusively for cogitation.

A better word than:

thoughts
reflection
meditation
contemplation

Parable

a short allegorical story designed to illustrate or teach some truth, religious principle, or moral lesson.

The parables my parents tried to instill in me were well-intentioned, however misguided.

A better word than:

lesson
teaching

Diffident

lacking confidence in one's own ability, worth, or fitness; timid; shy

I'm very diffident when it comes to my talents, but my outgoing nature eludes others of my insecurities.

A better word than:

timid
shy
lacking confidence

Ludicrous

causing laughter because of absurdity; provoking or deserving derision; ridiculous; laughable: a ludicrous lack of efficiency

She shared my ludicrous experience during the spelling bee in a similar way.

A better word than:

laughable
derisive
ridiculous
absurdity

Limpid

clear, transparent, or pellucid, as water, crystal, or air: We could see the very bottom of the limpid pond.

My expressions can be limpid.

A better word than:

clear
transparent
pellucid

Sinew

Often, sinews. the source of strength, power, or vigor: the sinews of the nation

I'm a woman of great sinews.

A better word than:

source of strength
powerful
vigorous

Invidious

calculated to create ill will or resentment or give offense; hateful: invidious remarks

I'm starting to fear that he's becoming an invidious person.

A better word than:

offensive
resentful
ill-intended
hateful
calculating

Umbrageous

creating or providing shade; shady: an umbrageous tree

Finding an umbrageous picnic spot served to be a greater challenge than formerly anticipated.

A better word than:

shady

Vagrant

a person who wanders around idly and has no permanent home or employee; vagabond; tramp

After seeing her live a vagrant life, I no longer cared about how much she denigrated me.

A better word than:

(Vagrant doesn't always mean tramp or a panhandler, necessarily, though).

wanderer
tramp
beggar

Conjecture

the formation or expression of an opinion or theory without sufficient evidence of proof

Her conjectured presentation makes her look unintelligent.

A better word than:

guess
speculation
postulation
assumption

Jubilation

a feeling of or the expression of joy or exultation: Their jubilation subsided when they lost their second game.

The jubilation I felt in my dream was gone when I awoke.

A better word than:

joy
exultation

Gourmand

1. one who is excessively fond of eating and drinking

2. one who is heartily interested in good food and drink

The man became gourmand as a way to cope with the emptiness in his life.

A better word than:

interest in food and drinks

Bumptious

presumptuously, obtusely, and often noisily self-assertive: obtrusive

While used productively a bumptious attitude can be admirable, but the only ones I've come across are also destructive.

A better word than:

presumptuous
obtuse
loudly self-assertive
obtrusive

Nascent

coming or having recently come into existence

The nascent entrance of Dawn from Buffy the Vampire Slayer was suspicious, but we, viewers, became comfortable with the idea rather quickly.

A better word than:

recently come into existence
newly developed or developing

Viand

an item of food; especially: a choice or tasty dish

His viand palette has diminished since he became a chronic smoker.

A better word than:

item of food
tasty dish

Word Fact

Wangle

to resort to trickery or devious methods

I immediately ended my friendship with her when I found out that she tried to wangle a wedge between my boyfriend and I.

A better word than:

trickery
devious behavior

Banausic

relating to or concerned with earning a living - used pejoratively; also utilitarian, practical

I've been approaching my upcoming financial transition with a banausic perspective.

A better word than:

practical

Gingerly

very cautious or careful

I don't have the gingerly touch mothers have when caring a wound.

A better word than:

cautious
careful

Kitsch

something that appeals to popular lowbrow taste and is often of poor quality

New marketing studies have revealed that most consumers are developing taste for kitsch styles.

A better word than:

popular poor quality taste

Wanderlust

strong longing for an impulse toward wandering

I was reminded of my once wanderlust desires.

A better word than:

desire toward wandering

Nepotism

favoritism (as in appointment to a job) based on kinship

I suspect my sister's internship position was strongly influenced by nepotism.

A better word than:

favoritism based on family relations?

Umbrage

1. shade, shadow
2. shady branches: foliage
3a. an indistinct indication: vague suggestion
3b. a reason for doubt
4. resentment, offense

The umbrage that used to define my life has become a forgotten past.

A better word than:

resentment
offense

Insuperable

incapable of being surmounted, overcome, passed over, or solved

Her insuperable perspective she keeps vehemently arguing is not only disgraceful but offensive to me.

A better word than:

unsurmountable
unresolvable

Malversation

misbehavior and especially corruption in an office, trust, or commission

Malversation is a common practice in pyramid schemes I refuse to participate in.

A better word than:

misbehavior
corruption

Druthers

free choice: preference

My druthers to be independent and not take the easy way out has some burdens.

A better word than:

free choice
preference

Glower

to look or stare with sullen annoyance or anger

My glowering reaction was transparent to everyone there.

A better word than:

sullen annoyance
glaring

Zoomorphic

having the form of an animal

A humanistic quality is always incorporated into zoomorphic characters in cartoons to make them more tangible for the viewers.

A better word than:

animal shaped?

Yawp

1. to make a raucous noise: squawk

2. to clamor or complain

No other person's yawping equals Mrs. H's.

A better word than:

raucous noise
squawk
clamor
complain

Xanthic

of, relating to, or tending toward a yellow color

My friend persisted that the xanthic coat is intended to locate me quickly in the event of an emergency.

A better word than:

related to a yellow color

Wreakful

revengeful; angry; furious.

Her aimlessly wreakful aggression was lost on everyone including herself.

A better word than:

revengeful
angry
furious
vindictive

Vapid

lacking or having lost life, sharpness, or flavor; insipid; flat: vapid tea

Vapidity for the sake of vacuous inclusion in the popular crowd was never an interest for me.

A better word than:

flavorless
insipid
flat
tasteless
unimaginative
uninteresting

Unceremonious

discourteously abrupt; hasty; rude: He made an unceremonious departure in the middle of his speech.

We were gravely disappointed that such a reputable performance would end with an unceremonious dismissal.

A better word than:

abrupt
hasty
rude
informal
unplanned
discordant
incongruous

Tenacity

pertinacious, persistent, stubborn, or obstinate.

My tenacious drive for journalism waned as society's standards for journalism has altered.

A better word than:

pertinacious
persistent
stubborn
obstinate
driven

Word Fact

Salient

prominent or conspicuous

His salient exposure hasn't replaced his distasteful upbringing.

A better word than:

prominent
conspicuous
important
significant

Ratify

to make something legally valid or operative usually by formal approval or sanctioning

The ratified contract protected the companies involved.

A better word than:

approve
authorize
consent
endorse
sanction
validate

Quodlibetic

a subtle or elaborate argument or point of debate, usually on a theological or scholastic subject.

I've never had a formidable quodlibetic opponent.

A better word than:

debating theological or scholastic subjects

Paragon

an individual of unequaled excellence often serving as a model

She was the paragon in my dating career that I can't see to escape.

A better word than:

unequaled excellence
ideal
epitome
unequaled
ultimate

Onerous

imposing great hardship or strain

I've come to realize that my onerous life is more achievable than I once believed.

A better word than:

strenuous
difficult
burdensome
demanding
taxing
tough
trying

Nugatory

of no real value; trifling; worthless.

Paris Hilton acts like intelligence is a nugatory quality.

A better word than:

worthless
trifling
valueless

Magniloquent

speaking or expressed in a lofty or grandiose style; pompous; bombastic; boastful

The humor that magniloquent characters are supposed to deliver in movies are lost on me.

A better word than:

pompous
bombastic
boastful

Lechery

unrestrained or excessive indulgence of sexual desire

Although Nip/Tuck is polluted with lechery, it still has more complexities than simplified sex.

A better word than:

excessive sex

Jostle

to bump, push, shove, brush against, or elbow roughly or rudely

I always managed to avoid jostling my way through Chinatown with quick maneuvers.

A better word than:

bump
push
shove
elbow

Immalleable

Not malleable; stiff

Her art project was unexpectedly immalleable.

A better word than:

stiff
hard
unbendable

Heteroclite

irregular or abnormal; anomalous.

Growing up in such a heteroclite environment like San Francisco has calibrated me differently from people in Los Angeles.

A better word than:

irregular
abnormal
anomalous

Genial

warmly or pleasantly cheerful; cordial; a genial disposition; a genial host

I've never had a genial quality.

A better word than:

amicable
friendly
neighborly
cheerful
jolly
jovial
merry
pleasant

Flagrant

shockingly noticeable or evident; obvious; glaring: a flagrant error

I've practically become immune to flagrant errors that shouldn't be tolerated.

A better word than:

noticeable
obvious
glaring

Effrontery

flagrant disregard of courtesy or propriety and an arrogant assumption of privilege

Being exposed to such prominence makes people vulnerable an effrontery perspective.

A better word than:

confidence
presumption
arrogant assumption
flagrant disregard

Caricature

a picture, description, etc., ludicrously exaggerating the peculiarities or defects of person's or things: His caricature of the mayor in this morning's paper is the best he's ever drawn.

fdfdfd

Celebrity news distastefully profits from caricature of actresses and actors.

A better word than:

ludicrously exaggerated

bedlamite

an insane person; lunatic

An bedlamite escaped from the mental institution and tried to escape in my friend's vehicle.

A better word than:

insane person
lunatic

Amaranth

an imaginary, undying flower

I was to desperate to have my own amaranth after I saw Beauty & the Beast.

A better word than:

undying flower

Yowl

to utter a long, distressful or dismay cry, as an animal or a person; howl

She woke up terrified after the endless yowls in her dreams.

A better word than:

cry
howl
bellow
wail
howl

kowtow

to act in an obsequious manner; show servile deference

I'm too independent and opinionated to be the kowtow person my parents hoped I'd be.

A better word than:

submissive
obsequious

Jocose

given to or characterized by joking; jesting; humorous; playful: a jocose and amusing manner.

Not growing up in a jocose household, humor is lost on me.

A better word than:

jesting
humorous
playful
comical
jovial
jocund

Uncomely

not in keeping with accepted standards of what is right or proper in polite society; "was buried with indecent haste"; "indecorous behavior"; "language unbecoming to a lady"; "unseemly to use profanity"; "moved to curb their untoward ribaldry";

The prominence I was born into influenced the development of my uncharneled "charm".

A better word than:

indecorous behavior
indecent haste

Nefarious

extremely wicked or villainous; iniquitous: a nefarious plot

Even after she endured identity fraud, thievery, and an salvageable credit rating she still tolerates her sister's nefarious behavior.

A better word than:

atrocious
heinous
flagrant
outrageous

Halcyon

calm; peaceful; tranquil

A halcyon lifestyle with a healthy balance of excitement is unrealistic.

A better word than:

calm
peaceful
tranquil

Trills

a fluttering or tremulous sound, as that made by certain birds; a warble

The birds trill happily in their treetop.

A better word than:

warble
fluttering sounds

Word Fact

Warble

to sing or whistle with trills, quavers, or melodic embellishments

Her warbled voice must have refined beauty, considering her career success.

A better word than:

sing
melody

Garrulous

excessively talkative in a rambling, roundabout manner esp. about trivial manners

I have a tendency to act garrulously when I want a favor.

A better word than:

wordy
talkative
ramble

Word Fact

Vedana

(pronounced VAY-dunna)

raw physical sensation, the objective observation of which can provide insight into the impermanent nature of all things

My vedana is unrefined.

A better word than:

?

Pliant

bending readily; flexible; supple; adaptable: She manipulated the pliant clay.

Her clay wasn't at all pliant the way we had anticipated it to be.

A better word than:

flexible
adaptable

Word Fact

The word, "Hector" derives from Greek Hektor. In Greek mythology, he's the chief Trojan warrior and the eldest son of Priam, King of Troy.

Bucolic

of or pertaining to shepherds; pastoral

The bucolic town had a deadly secret.

A better word than:

pastoral
rural

Tyranny

arbitrary or unrestrained exercise of power; despotic abuse of authority

The male tyranny practiced in traditional Japan has influenced my father's view on gender roles.

A better word than:

dictatorship
dominating
oppression
abusing power

Succor

help; relief; aid; assistance.

To this day I regret ending my friendship with Phil out of fear that his girlfriend would be jealous because I've never met a person whose intentions were so succor.

A better word than:

help
relief
aid
assistance

Cunctation

delay

I had no idea that a cunctation would occur with my move.

A better word than:

delay

Fanfaronade

empty boasting: bluster

I'm so put off by people who make a chronic habit out of overestimating themselves in virtually every field only to discover that it's nothing more than fanfaronade behavior.

A better word than:

bluster
empty boasting
bragging

Vulcanize

to treat (rubber or rubberlike material) chemically to give useful properties (as elasticity or strength)

The process of vulcanizing rubber has aided in our modern lifestyle.

A better word than:

treating
altering

Dissonant

disagreeing or harsh in sound; discordant

Being an adult and not owing my friend's mother an explanation for a one month absence, which isn't uncommon, her dissonant interrogations were unexpected and unreasonable.

A better word than:

disagreeing
discordant
conflicting
discrepant
incongruous

Word Fact

The word choreography comes from the ancient Greek word khoreia, meaning "to dance in unison," which in turn originated with the Greek word khoros, meaning "chorus."

NOTE: Word fact has been rescheduled to Mondays. We all hate Mondays because it's when the weekend is officially over. Monday is when many of us resume work that requires mental stimulation and focus. So I thought it would be appropriate to begin the week with something mentally invigorating.

Laconic

using few words; expressing much in few words; concise: a laconic reply

I often envy other peoples' laconic abilities.

A better word than:

concise

Perfunctory

performed merely as a routine, duty; hasty and superficial: perfunctory courtesy.

I took time off from school because I wanted more than a perfunctory education.

A better word than:

routine
duty

Quixotic

caught up in the romance of noble deeds and the pursuit of unreachable goals; idealistic without regard to practicality

I'm astounded when I see grown adults occupy their time with quixotic thoughts the way I did as a child. While it's important to have dreams, living in reality is important especially when you've filed for bankruptcy or you spend thousands on tuition and you never attend school.

A better word than:

idealist

Word Fact

Have you ever wondered why pound is abbreviated lb.? I always did. The abbreviation lb. derives from the Latin word libra, which means pound balance. When the English decided to follow the pound measurement guide, the Latin abbreviation lb. remained.

Discordant

being at variance; disagreeing; incongruous: discordant opinions

I don't have the resilience or tolerance to deal with discordant roommates, and a sense of normality and stability has always been a priority in my home life.

A better word than:

disagreeing
varying

Unctuous

characterized by excessive piousness or moralistic fervor, esp. in an affected manner, excessively smooth, suave, or smug.

Some of my friends were so desperate to be with someone, anyone that they couldn't understand why I rejected unctuous men.

A better word than:

pious
smooth
suave
smug

Pensive

dreamily or wistfully thoughtful: a pensive mood

Jensen Ackles has a pensive quality. He's soooooo hot!!!!

A better word than:

dreamy
wistful

Pejorative

having a disparaging, derogatory, or belittling effect or force: the pejorative affix -

Her pejorative impact on me was partly due to my susceptibility and vulnerability.

A better word than:

disparaging
derogatory
belittling

Demarcate

1. to mark the limits of: delimit

2. to set apart: separate

The police didn't make any effort to demarcate crime violence from our neighborhood.

A better word than:

separate
delimit
divide

Weal

a sound, healthy, or prosperous state: well-being

Meditators and yoga practitioners alike all have common goals to reach weal.

A better word than:

well-being

Word Fact

English speakers once used the term foursquare to describe a rectangle with four equal sides, even though they could say it was simply a square. Threesquare was also used to describe a triangle with equal sides, sixsquare as an alternate for hexagonal, and eightsquare for octagonal. Eventually, foursquare developed a second sense, used to describe persons of things that stand out "squarely" and forthrightly. One can now speak of "foursquare citizens" and "a foursquare response." "Foursquare" can also be an adverb meaning "solidly" or "forthrightly."

New Goal

My goal is to offer a word fact every Friday.

Alacrity

brisk and eagerness; liveliness

The alacrity found in college freshmen doesn't last very long.

A better word than:

eagerness
liveliness
enthusiasm
zeal
excitement
vigorous
invigorating

Parsimonious

careful with money or resources; especially: frugal to the point of stinginess

I keep a list of things I plan to purchased and pursue in life evaluated with a balance between desire and necessity, so I never forget what my goals and guard to keep against becoming parsimonious.

A better word than:

penny-pinching
frugal
miserly
niggardly
stingy
penurious
prudent

Capitulate

1. to surrender often after negotiation of terms

2. to cease resisting: acquiesce

At one point, I was willing to capitulate my creative writing process for a greater societal impact until factors were considered.

A better word than:

surrender
yield
succumb

Baleful

deadly or pernicious in influence

Baleful, Ted Bundy, changed the way psychologists and law enforcements view serial killers.

A better word than:

pernicious in influence
sinister
vindictive
venomous

Objurgation

a harsh rebuke

Objurgations about my skills as a writer is one thing I'm not thick-skinned enough to endure.

A better word than:

rebuke
disapproval

Dereliction

deliberate or conscious neglect; negligence; delinquency: dereliction of duty

My parents' dereliction towards me has traumatized me more than they know, more than I even know.

A better word than:

deliberate neglect
delinquency

Tatterdemalion

1. ragged or disreputable in appearance

2. being in a decayed state or condition: dilapidated

Being so tatterdemalion, you wouldn't guess how prominent he is in society.

A better word than:

ragged in appearance

Egregious

extraordinary in some bad way; glaring; flagrant: an egregious mistake, an egregious liar

The egregious decision she made impacted not only her life but that of her child's.

A better word than:

flagrant
atrocious

Palpitate

to pulsate with unusual rapidity from exertion, emotion, disease, etc.,: flutter

His heart palpitated wildly.

A better word than:

flutter
pulsate

Procrustean

marked by arbitrary often ruthless disregard of individual differences of special circumstances

The company abandoned its procrustean scheduling policy, allowing single mothers and other employees to work more flexible hours.

A better word than:

arbitrarily disregarding

Vehement

zealous, ardent, impassioned: a vehement defense; vehement enthusiasm

Vehemently arguing that 67% of California homeowners were defaulting and buying a house when you're unemployed only when the down payment is available went ignored.

A better word than:

zealous
ardent
impassioned

Stultification

to make or cause to appear foolish or ridiculous

Menial work can stultify the mind.

A better word than:

foolish
ridiculous

Indolence

dislike of work; laziness; idleness

Indolence is a common characteristic among spoiled, modern age children.

A better word than:

laziness
idleness

Recrudesce

to break out afresh, as a sore, a disease, or anything else that has been quiescent

Cold sores are a recrudesce nightmare for me every year.

A better word than:

recur
return

Quiescent

being at rest; quiet; still; inactive or motionless: a quiescent mind

Meditators reach a quiescent state that I'd like to experience before my death.

A better word than:

quiet
still
inactive
motionless
peaceful
serene

Virulent

actively poisonous; intensely noxious: a virulent insect bite.

I fear that I'll have a virulent reaction to bee stings.

A better word than:

poisonous

Opprobrium

the disgrace or the reproach incurred by conduct considered outrageously shameful; infamy

Paul's opprobrium behavior goes uncorrected.

A better word than:

infamy
disgrace
defamation

Facile

moving, acting, working, proceeding, etc., with ease, sometimes with superficiality: facile fingers, a facile mind

Tracy is an innovative and facile artist.

A better word than:

dexterous

Precipitous

resembling a precipice; extremely steep

Davie had to pay a precipitous price to the IRS.

A better word than:

extremely steep

Bouleversement

1. reversal

2. a violent disturbance: disorder

Bouleversement is a genetic concern in our family.

A better word than:

disorder

Florid

reddish; ruddy;rosy: a florid complexion

She has an enigmatic, florid complexion that's not caused by rosacea.

A better word than:

reddish
ruddy
rosy

Emaciate

to make abnormally lean or thin by a gradual wasting away of flesh

When she chose ballet as her profession, she developed an emaciated appearance.

A better word than:

wasting away
thin

Incumbent

holding an indicated osition, role, office, etc.

My family expects my sister to take over my aunt's incumbent position.

A better word than:

official
dutiful
responsible

Vitriolic

very caustic; scathing: vitriolic criticism

Her vitriolic criticism still offends me to this day.

A better word than:

caustic
scathing
bitter
hostile
acrid

Aparheid

(in the Republic South Africa) a rigid policy of segregation of the nonwhite population

We can't imagine what it was truly like to live in a time when apartheid was the norm.

A better word than:

racial segregation

Incongruous

not corresponding; disagreeing; made up of diversity or discordant elements

Her incongruous sense of style didn't come off as eclectic as much as it did disorderly and distasteful.

A better word than:

discordant
disagreeing
divergent

Extant

in existence; still existing; not destroyed or lost

There are only three extant copies of the document

A better word than:

still existing
alive

Ersatz

being a substitute or imitation, usually an inferior one

I've always feared being an ersatz in every aspect of my life.

After spending an exorbitant amount of money on ersatz skincare products, I took it upon myself to investigate superior ingredients.

A better word than:

substitute
artificial

Praxis

practice, as distinguished from theory; application or use, as of knowledge or skills.

The praxis of Western medicine is becoming inferior because of it symptom management oriented techniques, which doesn't eradicate diseases or symptoms at the root of the problem.

A better word than:

practice
way

Dilapidate

to bring or fall into a state of painful ruin, decay, or disrepair

With laborious effect, some dilapidated houses can be restored and refined beautifully.

A better word than:

destroy
demolish

Adroit

expert or nimble in the use of the hands or body

I want an adroit oral surgeon for my wisdom teeth extraction.

A better word than:

expert
nimble
dexterous
agile
skillful
deft

Seneschal

an officer having full charge of domestic arrangements, ceremonies, the administration of justice, etc., in the household of a medieval prince or dignitary; steward

The seneschal executed everything with success.

A better word than:

steward

Exorbitant

much too high; unreasonably excessive

My cousins are unaware that they're leading an exorbitant lifestyle.

A better word than:

unreasonably excessive
extravagant
outrageous
preposterous
extortionate

Meretricious

alluring by a show of flashy or vulgar attractions; tawdry

Regina's meretricious outfit and behavior attracts the wrong kind of attention.

A better word than:

tawdry
gaudy
flashy

Hypocorism

1. a pet name

2. the use of pet names

My friend and her family had difficulty agreeing to a hypocorism for the imported dog she wanted to get.

Ironically enough, my friend's nickname has a hypocoristic origin.

A better word than:

a pet name

Maudlin

tearfully or weakly emotional; foolishly sentimental: a maudlin story of a little orphan and her lost dog.

Pregnancy makes women unpredictably maudlin.

A better word than:

overemotional
overly sentimental

Anodyne

a medicine that relieves or allays pain

Because ocular migraines are so ambivalent and poorly understood, I've been unsuccessful in finding an anodyne.

A better word than:

anaesthetic
analgesic
painkiller

Acrimonious

caustic, stinging, or bitter in nature, speech, behavior, etc.: an acrimonious answer, an acrimonious dispute

As annoying and intrusive as Holly was, it came as a surprise when she spoke so acrimoniously of me.

A better word than:

caustic
bitter
acrid

Pedantic

characterized by a narrow, often ostentatious concern for book learning and formal rules: a pedantic attention to details

A pedantic approach is a dying practice in modern classrooms.

I can, at times, become unproductively pedantic.

A better word than:

precise
scholastic
ostentatious

Tawdry

(of finery, trappings, etc.) gaudy; showy and cheap

Some people try to overcompensate or allude more sophistication than they have with a tawdry wardrobe that shows more distaste than class.

A better word than:

gaudy
showy
cheap
tasteless
brazen

Malapert

unbecomingly bold or saucy

Viable candidates' potentials can easily be concealed with malapert behavior.

A better word than:

saucy

Pixilated

slightly eccentric or mentally disordered

Having a few pixilated people in your life makes things interesting and entertaining.

A better word than:

eccentric
flighty
neurotic

Glabrous

smooth; especially; having a surface without hairs or projections

Although Samuel has a mustache and full beard, the top of his round head is glabrous.

A better word than:

smooth
bald
hairless
bare

Solatium
Officinal
Meme
Epistolary
Kludge
Chivy
Georgic
Splenetic
Redoubt
Amuse-bouche
Cybarian

Compunction

uneasiness of the mind because of wrongdoing; pricking of conscience; regret; remorse

Compunction is always a present danger for surgeons with poor coping skills.

A better word than:

regret
remorse
scruple

Eupeptic

1. of, relating to, or having good digestion

2. cheerful, optimistic

Hearing so many people encourage me to write my own book makes me eupeptic about my dreams of becoming a writer.

A better person than:

cheerful
optimistic
delighted

Longueur

a dull and tedious passage or section (as of a book)

Once you get through the exhaustive longueur dealing with the main character's childhood, the rest of the book is a brisk and compelling read.

A better word than:

?

Any suggestions?

Querulous

1. full of complaints; complaining

2. characterized by or uttered in complaint; peevish: a querulous tone; constant querulous reminders of things to be done.

My querulous nature is a habit I've made an effort to kick especially ever since I started living alone.

A better word than:

complaining
contentious
disagreeable

Obfuscate

to confuse, bewilder, or stupefy

I, sometimes, find math obfuscating.

A better word than:

confuse
bewilder
stupefy
stumped
puzzle
perplex
confound

Effeminate

(of a man or boy) having traits, tastes, habits, etc., traditionally considered feminine, as softness or delicacy

I have many effeminate friends.

A better word than:

womanly
womanlike
delicate

Supercilious

haughtily disdainful or contemptuous; as a person or a facial expression

I felt so betrayed when my principal who always regarded me so highly quickly shifted her opinion and was supercilious towards me.

A better word than:

disdainful
contemptuous
scornful

Ebullience

high spirits; exhilaration; exuberance

Josh's ebullience after surviving an eighty foot fall of a cliff was contagious.

A better word than:

exhilaration
exuberance
excitement
joy

Nihilistic

total rejection of established laws and institutions

A nihilistic approach to the government's failure isn't the solution.

A better word than:

anarchist
antagonist
nonconformist

Aplomb

imperturbable self-possession, poise, or assurance

An aplomb woman is a rarity.

A better word than:

self-confidence
self-possessive
poise
assurance

Imperturbable

incapable of being upset or agitated; not easily excited; calm: imperturbable composure

My ex's imperturbable exterior intimidates or falsifies an emotionally-disconnected impression.

A better word than:

calm
cool
collected
composed

Lackadaisical

without interest, vigor, or determination; listless; lethargic: a lackadaisical attempt

My studies were handled very lackadaisically in high school.

A better word than:

listless
lethargic
lack of effort
lack of determination
careless
lazy
halfhearted

Insouciant

free from concern, worry, or anxiety; carefree; nonchalant

I can't imagine myself even for a second being insouciant.

A better word than:

carefree
nonchalant
worry-free
unconcerned

Discombobulate

to confuse or disconcert; upset; frustrate: The speaker was completely discombobulated by the hecklers.

When Paul's inebriated, he speaks to me in a very discombobulated manner.

A better word than:

confuse
disconcert
upset
frustrate
anger
irritate

Derision

ridicule; mockery: the inept performance elicited derision from the audience

Paris Hilton's vacuous actions induces derision from whoever pays any attention to her. But is the media any better? They advertise her behavior. What an unproductive way to utilize their resources.

A better word than:

ridicule
mockery
insult
make fun of
contempt
disrespect

Meander

to proceed by or take a winding or indirect course: The stream meandered through the valley.

Unexpected circumstances are making college a meandering experience.

A better word than:

indirect
wander
roam
drift

Repudiate

to reject as having no authority or binding force: to repudiate a claim.

Colom's rights were repudiated by the police.

A better word than:

no authority
no jurisdiction
reject
denied

Staid

marked by self-control; settled; sober

I lack the staid mentality and discipline that others possess.

A better word than:

settled
sedate
serious

Rabid

irrationally extreme in opinion or practice: a rabid isolationist, a rabid baseball fan

Rabid protesters, sometimes, convey their messages through acts of violence.

A better word than:

irrational
extreme
fanatical
radical

Perfidious

deliberately faithless; treacherous; deceitful: a perfidious lover

Why some people openly display and pride themselves on such perfidious behavior baffles and offends me.

A better word than:

unfaithful
deceitful
dishonest
untrustworthy
treacherous
disloyal

Pugnacious

inclined to quarrel or fight readily; quarrelsome; belligerent; combative

Older brothers often behave pugnaciously towards their sisters' new boyfriends.

A better word than:

ready to fight
quarrelsome
combative
aggressive
confrontational
argumentative

Placid

pleasantly calm or peaceful; unruffled; tranquil; serenely quiet and undisturbed: placid waters

Being a city girl, I don't think I was ever meant to lead a placid life.

A better word than:

calm
peaceful
serene

Mundane

found in the ordinary course of events; "a placid everyday scene"; it was a routine day"; "there's nothing quite like a real...train conductor to add color to a quotidian commute"

I want more than what a mundane life can offer.

A better word than:

ordinary
routine
usual
regular
common
average

Abysmally

extremely or hopelessly bad or severe

It pains me to see my friend view the world through such abysmally eyes.

A better word than:

bleak
severe
bad
awful
depressing

Spurious

not genuine, authentic, or true; not from the claim, pretended, or proper source; counterfeit

I found spurious items sold at on eBay that I stayed away from.

NOTE: This word is a shining example of a word that can easily replace a poor substitute. Rather than saying fake, I can say spurious.

A better word than:

fake
unauthentic
counterfeit
not genuine
false
bogus
imitation

Paucity

smallness of quantity; scarcity: a country to a paucity of resources.

I shamefully admit that my vocabulary shows an extreme paucity, which I plan to change.

A better word than:

little
limited
small
lack of
rarity
scarcity

Celerity

swiftness; speed

I'd like to achieve the celerity that professional athletes possess.

A better word than:

speed
swiftness
fast

Myopic

a visual defect in which distant objects appear blurred because images are focused in front of the retina rather than on it, nearsightedness. Also called short sight.

Myopic roads have the highest accident ratings.

A better word than:

nearsightedness
up close vision

A Word A Day

I wanted to name this blog, A Word a Day, but I don't want to commit to something I can't keep. I feel overburdened in my life as it is. I don't want something insignificant and trivial to guilt me. My goal is, nonetheless, to learn a new word a day and incorporate it into my vocabulary. After all, just because I didn't name my blog, A Word a Day, doesn't mean that I can't learn a new word a day. I want to find words that are unique, uncommon, and rarely used because where else would I find the opportunity to learn such words? At the same time, I want words that I can add to my vocabulary because I'll have an opportunity to practice them. And, unfortunately, we live in a society where many of us don't know words beyond the basic level. I'd be lying if I said that I was an exception to the rule, which is why some words may seem too simple for some readers, but I intend to include them in my list. We are all given an opportunity to use more refined words but rarely do. I want to change that by offering more sophisticated words that can replace an overused word. I'll provide the word, definition, put it in a sentence, and offer a list of simple words that the word of the day can replace. I hope that others will find inspiration in this blog.